Genesis 16: Hagar and the God Who Sees
Sarai gives Hagar to Abram, but conflict follows, and God meets the fleeing Hagar in the wilderness.
Genesis 16 (WEB)
1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bore him no children. She had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2 Sarai said to Abram, “See now, Yahweh has restrained me from bearing. Please go in to my handmaid. It may be that I will obtain children by her.” Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.
3 Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.
4 He went in to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
5 Sarai said to Abram, “This wrong is your fault. I gave my handmaid into your bosom, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Yahweh judge between me and you.”
6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her face.
7 Yahweh’s angel found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain on the way to Shur.
8 He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s handmaid, where did you come from? Where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.”
9 Yahweh’s angel said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.”
10 Yahweh’s angel said to her, “I will greatly multiply your seed, that they will not be numbered for multitude.”
11 Yahweh’s angel said to her, “Behold, you are with child, and will bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because Yahweh has heard your affliction.
12 He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will live opposite all of his brothers.”
13 She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?”
14 Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi. Behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
15 Hagar bore a son for Abram. Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.
16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
Genesis 16 (KJV)
1 Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.
6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
7 And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
9 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
10 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
11 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
13 And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
14 Wherefore the well was called Beer–lahai–roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
Genesis 16 (ASV)
1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, bare him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, Jehovah hath restrained me from bearing; go in, I pray thee, unto my handmaid; it may be that I shall obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
3 And Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to Abram her husband to be his wife.
4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I gave my handmaid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: Jehovah judge between me and thee.
6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her that which is good in thine eyes. And Sarai dealt hardly with her, and she fled from her face.
7 And the angel of Jehovah found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai’s handmaid, whence camest thou? and whither goest thou? And she said, I am fleeing from the face of my mistress Sarai.
9 And the angel of Jehovah said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
10 And the angel of Jehovah said unto her, I will greatly multiply thy seed, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
11 And the angel of Jehovah said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son; and thou shalt call his name Ishmael, because Jehovah hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he shall be as a wild ass among men; his hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell over against all his brethren.
13 And she called the name of Jehovah that spake unto her, Thou art a God that seeth: for she said, Have I even here looked after him that seeth me?
14 Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bare, Ishmael.
16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
Summary
Sarai, still childless, gives her Egyptian handmaid Hagar to Abram so she might obtain children through her. Hagar conceives, and when she despises her mistress, tension erupts; Sarai blames Abram, deals harshly with Hagar, and Hagar flees into the wilderness. There Yahweh's angel finds her by a spring and asks where she has come from and where she is going. He tells her to return and submit, yet also promises to greatly multiply her offspring. He announces she will bear a son named Ishmael, 'because Yahweh has heard your affliction,' a wild and contentious man. Overwhelmed that God has seen and spoken to her, Hagar names him 'You are a God who sees,' and the well is called Beer Lahai Roi. Hagar returns and bears Ishmael when Abram is eighty-six years old.
Main Characters
- Sarai — Abram's wife, who tries to secure a child through Hagar and then deals harshly with her in resentment.
- Hagar — The Egyptian handmaid who flees mistreatment and is found and comforted by God in the wilderness.
- Abram — The husband who listens to Sarai's plan and leaves Hagar's treatment in Sarai's hands.
- Yahweh's angel — The Lord's messenger who finds Hagar, hears her affliction, and promises her a multiplied offspring.
Key Verse
Genesis 16:13 (WEB)
She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, “You are a God who sees,” for she said, “Have I even stayed alive after seeing him?”
Lessons Learned
- Trying to force God's promises by our own schemes often breeds pain and conflict.
- God sees and hears those who are mistreated, overlooked, or fleeing in distress.
- God meets us in the wilderness and gives direction even amid the consequences of others' choices.
- No one is beneath God's notice; he cares personally for the lowly and afflicted.
- Impatience tempts us to engineer God's promises. Sarai gives Hagar to Abram to obtain children, taking the promise into her own hands rather than waiting on God (Genesis 16:2, WEB).
- Our shortcuts can bring lasting conflict. Once Hagar conceives, contempt and harsh treatment follow, and Hagar flees, showing the painful fallout of self-made plans (Genesis 16:6, WEB).
- God seeks out the distressed and forgotten. Yahweh's angel finds Hagar by a spring in the wilderness and gently asks where she has come from and is going (Genesis 16:7, WEB).
- God hears the cry of affliction. The son is named Ishmael because Yahweh has heard Hagar's affliction, showing that God listens to the suffering (Genesis 16:11, WEB).
- God is the One who truly sees us. Hagar calls him 'a God who sees,' amazed that God has noticed and met her in her lowliness and need (Genesis 16:13, WEB).
- God's care reaches beyond the chosen line. God promises to greatly multiply Hagar's offspring, showing his compassion extends even to those outside the covenant promise (Genesis 16:10, WEB).
- Why do Sarai and Abram resort to Hagar to obtain a child, and what results from it (Genesis 16:1-6)?
- How does Yahweh's angel speak to Hagar in the wilderness, and what does he promise her (Genesis 16:7-12)?
- What does Hagar's name for God, 'You are a God who sees,' reveal about her experience (Genesis 16:13)?
- When have you been tempted to force a good outcome your own way rather than waiting on God?
- How does it comfort you that God sees and hears people who feel overlooked or mistreated?
- Sarai is barren and grows impatient, so she gives Hagar to Abram hoping to obtain children through her, and Abram agrees. The scheme produces contempt, jealousy, blame, and harsh treatment that drives Hagar to flee.
- Yahweh's angel finds Hagar by a spring, asks where she has come from and is going, tells her to return and submit, yet promises to greatly multiply her offspring and announces the birth of Ishmael.
- It reveals that Hagar, a mistreated foreign servant, discovers she is personally known and noticed by God. Even in the wilderness, fleeing and afflicted, she is seen, heard, and cared for by the living God.
- Personal: invite members to recall times they grasped for control rather than waiting. Encourage them to trust God's timing and to surrender outcomes they are tempted to force on their own terms.
- Personal: let members reflect on feeling unseen. Assure them, from Hagar's story, that God sees and hears the overlooked and afflicted, and encourage them to bring their distress honestly to him.